Art Vs Artist

Jenny continues to confront the life and work of her great-great-grandfather Eric Gill, one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. She grew up proud of his legacy, until she discovered the shocking truth about Gill’s sexual abuse of his daughters Betty and Petra. A truth that emerged decades after his death, sparking a national debate about what to do with his art.

Jenny found this out a teenager, soon after experiencing her own sexual assault. Her great-grandmother Betty had been the same age as Jenny was when she was abused. And somehow, the two things became knotted into something too painful to untangle. But now, she is ready to face it.

Last episode, Jenny went to the Welsh mountains in search of stories about Betty. She learnt about her creativity, her courage, and all that she went on to do, beyond the grip of Gill. With the strength of Betty in her, she's now off to London. To see some of Gill's most controversial public-facing work, and to ask the age-old question: can we separate art from artist?

This episode features the voices of: Daisy Dixon, Giles Fraser, Margaret Kennedy, Rebecca Marks, and Philip Mould.

Presenter: Jenny Davies
Script: Jenny Davies and Becky Ripley
Story Consultant: Kate Leys
Editor: Emma Harding
Commissioners: Dan Clarke and Tracy Williams
Producer/Director: Becky Ripley